Thanksgiving dinner: the annual marathon of kitchen chaos, time crunches, and the occasional family squabble over cranberry sauce. For many, it’s the ultimate test of culinary coordination. But the truth is, organizing this feast has more in common with a modern production line than one might expect—complete with last-minute changes, bottlenecks (often around the oven), and the need for a well-connected “workforce” to bring it all together.

Just like in manufacturing, getting everything to the table hot, delicious, and perfectly timed requires seamless planning, precise scheduling, and a team that knows how to adapt under pressure (especially when Aunt Linda insists on a new gluten-free stuffing recipe). Preparing a Thanksgiving meal can teach us a thing or two about the principles of production planning, scheduling, and teamwork that keep an enterprise running as smoothly as gravy on mashed potatoes. 

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